Las Vegas is often considered the entertainment capital of the world. New York City has Broadway and although it’s hard to compete with the esteem and prestige of such a storied name, Sin City has plenty to offer for people of all ages and walks of life. Vegas’ claim to being the top city in the entertainment industry stems from the variety seen here that cannot be matched anywhere else. With stage productions that span just about any genre of entertainment, the city’s top hotels offer shows with live musical talent, dance that includes anything from ballet to hip hop, magicians, illusionists, comedians, pyrotechnics, and elaborate stage sets. They are some of the most respected productions in the world.

These entertainers include some of the biggest talents known which include superstars who have taken residence in the city, an ever-growing trend amongst musical acts in Vegas. The trend essentially means a musician moves to the city for a temporary time while putting on weekly or nightly shows at a permanent arena held in one of the best hotels.

Celine Dion, The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and Jennifer Lopez have all gone down this path and found incredible success. But famed music superstars are far from the city’s only source of entertainment. Production companies like Cirque du Soleil put on several different performances at different hotels and famed magic acts like Criss Angel and Penn and Teller have long-standing shows. Whatever flavor audiences are in the mood for, they are sure to find exactly what they are looking for in Sin City. Here are twenty of the best stages shows in Las Vegas.

20 Absinthe

Playing at Caesars Palace since 2011, Absinthe, named after the alcoholic beverage, is an impassioned and fiery show, as its namesake would suggest. The show is a circus with a contemporary twist, often seen as making a mockery of the other famous shows that are found in Las Vegas with its over the top and in-your-face variety acts. These include sideshows, burlesque performers, and dancers.

Often times, the performances leave guests bewildered, but certainly never bored. Often considered Las Vegas’ best entertainment show, Absinthe is unforgettable.

19 Michael Jackson One by Cirque du Soleil

Held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Cirque du Soleil makes one of many appearances on our list. Their take on the expansive list of hits by the one and only Michael Jackson is something to truly behold. The performances which include dazzling high flying air stunts and acrobatics that often seem unnatural, are all centered on the King of Pop’s greatest hits.

The show is known to be one of the more fun performances in a city full of great ones. Audience members not only stare in amazement at the performers, but enjoy the timeless music we have grown to love over the past several decades.

18 The Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil

The incredible production company Cirque du Soleil makes another appearance on the list with another tribute to a timeless musical act, but this time in the form of The Beatles. Whereas their nod to Michael Jackson was centered on the acrobatic stunts to his pop hits, The Beatles Love is more choreographed dance that tells the story of the most popular and successful band of all time. Don’t take this to mean that the show is any less exciting, as the show includes surreal and often dreamlike visuals playing to their incredible set list of music.

17 Jennifer Lopez: All I Have

JLo’s turn at a Vegas show has been nothing but overwhelming success and positive reviews. She began her residency in January of 2016 at Planet Hollywood and has wowed hundreds of crowds night after night as well as critics alike, with All I Have being a critically acclaimed hit.

Her show includes some of the most elaborate sets with the singer and dancer paying special attention to detail. Not just focusing on her dance routines and music, the production includes several extravagant costume changes, a replica of the Bronx’s 6 Train, a giant moon, and crystal staircases.

16 Penn and Teller

Held at the Rio, one of Vegas' most modern and sought after hotels, Penn and Teller are considered Las Vegas’ longest-running headline act, a feat that is impressive and a testament to the show’s entertainment value. The show features Penn Jillette and Teller, a duo who incorporate magic and comedy, wowing audiences with Teller’s daring tricks while making them laugh with Penn’s humorous and borderline, inappropriate jokes.

The duo is one of Vegas’ most revered acts, likely to go down in history as one of its most successful.

15 Le Reve – The Dream

Performed in water, Le Reve The Dream is basically an underwater show of beautifully synchronized movements by swimmers. The show has a psychedelic atmosphere with choreographed ballet and aquatic stunts performed by professional swimmers and dancers in and above a water tank that holds well over one million gallons.

Guests are treated to this beautiful spectacle at the grand Wynn Las Vegas Hotel which only adds to the grace of the set.

14 Criss Angel Mindfreak

Made popular by the TV show of the same name over a decade ago, Criss Angel, one of the most well-known magicians in the world continues to perform at Las Vegas’ Famed Luxor Hotel and Casino throughout the year.

His show continues to baffle audiences with the performer putting on incredible displays of trickery, over-the-top magic sets, pyrotechnics, live musicians and illusions that are impossible to figure out.

13 Elton John: The Million Dollar Piano

Held at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Elton John’s extravagant year-round show was also one of the most popular and in-demand tickets in Las Vegas. Elton John’s residency in Las Vegas was marked by one of the most memorable shows by any big name musician that has taken their shot at Sin City.

One of the most impressive entertainment props of any show is Elton’s co-star, his instrument aptly named the Million Dollar Piano which is an expansive piano with LED screens, absolutely massive in size and took nearly half a decade to build.

12 Purple Reign

The title of this show, a play on words of the infamous singer Prince’s Purple Rain, is a tribute show that is The Westgate’s Hotel’s answer to Michael Jackson’s One. The show features costumed performers playing the pop star’s biggest hits with over-the-top stage props and costume changes which pay tribute to the pop sensation’s persona and flair for the extravagant.

Those who never quite got to see Prince in action when alive will sure to be satisfied with the Vegas’ tribute show!

11 Jabbawockeez JREAMZ: Journey Within

Winners of the popular hit TV show America’s Best Dance Crew, the Jabbawockeez have taken their talents from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in the form of their dance performance show at the world famed MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

The show, the only hip-hop dance headliner in the city, features the dance team’s breathtaking breakdancing and spellbinding choreography, set to special effects and elaborate prop stages.

10 Britney Spears: Piece of Me

Performing the biggest hits from her storied career, Britney Spears’ residency in Sin City has been one of the most popular and successful of any major music superstar. Her show, Piece of Me, treats her fans to all of her number one hits, which are plentiful, often recreating many of the famed sets she has been known for in her performances. Held at Planet Hollywood, Britney’s residency continues to bring in crowds with well over a million attendees to date.

9 Vegas! The Show!

Held at Planet Hollywood, Vegas! The Show is often considered one of Sin City’s best and most acclaimed shows. It pays tribute to Las Vegas’ standing as the entertainment capital of the world by incorporating past hit shows, famed singers, and all the features that make stage shows so popular.

The musical is a Broadway-style production, full of flair and dazzle, that brings out all the glitz and glamour of Vegas. It's certainly worth a watch.

8 An Intimate Evening with Santana

One of the most respected and successful recording artists of all time, Carlos Santana’s residency in Las Vegas is an esteemed show that treats the famed rocker’s fans to an intimate night of his best hits at the House of Blues.

The show is always considered a hit by fans because of the setting which allows for guests to sit within feet of Santana while he plays mellow hits on his guitar and rocks out to his more up-tempo rock ballads.

7 Zumanity by Cirque du Soleil

Held at New York-New York Hotel and Casino, Zumanity is Cirque du Soleil’s version of a sensual show that is geared to adult audiences. The show is billed as a fantastic and captivating way to see Cirque du Soleil in a different light with performers taking on flying acrobatic moves with a lucrative twist, sure to keep audiences mesmerized.

Considered one of the production company’s most popular and attended shows, Zumanity is definitely one of Vegas’ best!

6 Blue Man Group

A staple of Las Vegas entertainment, the Blue Man Group has been around since the late 1980’ and continues to be one of the most successful stage performances in the city. One of the longest running shows, Blue Man Group performances incorporate a variety of themes including popular music, obscure art and ambiguous messages about technology, information and society. The group has recently been purchased by the Cirque du Soleil production company which is sure to keep them relevant and help them get to the next level of art.

5 BAZ – Star Crossed Love

Film director Baz Luhrmann treats guests to a show based on his hit films of Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet, Simply Ballroom and The Great Gatsby. The show is a mashup of the director’s greatest love stories giving audience members in an interactive theatrical experience which includes musical sets, singing, dancing, and intricate stage sets.

Because the show is based on his films, folks visiting the performance at the Palazzo should brace themselves for some not-so-happy endings, as many of his films are tragic love stories.

4 Celine

Celine Dion’s self-titled show, Celine at Caesars Palace is one of the longest running Las Vegas residencies by any musical act. She keeps it simple by being the lone performer onstage without relying on dancers and other stage performers. She carries the show with her incredible voice as well as the use of one of the world’s best orchestras which back up her strong vocals.

She continues to leave audiences wowed with her biggest and most emotional hits marked by most known, My Heart Will Go On.

3 O by Cirque du Soleil

Pronounced as “eau” rather than like the letter “O”, after the French word for “water”, this stage production is set in a 1.5 million gallon tank at the famed Bellagio hotel. One of the longest standings shows in Vegas, since 1998, it has its own dedicated theatre which is designed to look like an opera house from centuries ago, giving audiences an authentic feel. The water performances are elegant and mesmerizing, making this one of Cirque du Soleil’s most beautiful productions.

2 Human Nature

Performing at the Venetian Las Vegas, Human Nature is a vocal group with sensational talent, showcased in their expansive list of songs. The group takes audiences on a journey through the best of what music has to offer, starting with Motown hits and doo-wop classics, putting their a capella style on full display. They even perform some of today’s biggest hits, making this one of the most sought-after musical shows in Vegas.

1 Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly

Held at one of Vegas trendiest hotels, LINQ, the winner of the hit TV competition show America’s Got Talent has hit it big with his own show in Sin City. Mat Franco won the competition through his electrifying illusions and he continues to put them on full display for audiences at his nightly performances.

His magic show has been one of the best received of its kind since its inception a couple years ago, gaining critical acclaim along the way.